Australian cricketers have demanded major changes to how the sport is run, according to the players' union. The absence of suspended trio Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft means it is a time of great upheaval on the park, as reflected in the bolter-laden Test squad announced on Tuesday. But the winds of change will also sweep through the headquarters of Cricket Australia (CA), where an independent review is set to be released soon while the race to be chief executive James Sutherland's successor enters its final stage. The power of those gusts is yet to be determined. Speculation continues to swirl on both fronts. Kevin Roberts, CA's general in last year's bitter pay war, is on the final shortlist of CEO candidates and expected to be chairman David Peever's preferred candidate. The findings of Dr Simon Longstaff's Ethics Centre probe into CA culture and governance, commissioned following the cheating scandal in Cape Town, are close to being finalised. A player behaviour charter, resulting from a separate review that was chaired by former opener Rick McCosker, is also expected to be signed off long before India arrive for a four-Test series in December. The Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) sought feedback from past and present players prior to making a series of recommendations in its submission to the Ethics Centre. "The feedback from ACA members provided a resounding call for significant and lasting change in the administration of the game," ACA president Greg Dyer wrote in the union's September newsletter. "The unfortunate events in South Africa created an opportunity that Australian cricket must not miss. "The opportunity for change is upon us - it must be grabbed with both hands. "Cricket cannot 'promote' its way out of this situation. This mustn't be a 'clever' marketing exercise." Dyer also called for a "very open and transparent" release of the independent review. A CA spokesperson noted their organisation is committed to sharing findings from the concurrent reviews before the home season starts. "There are still a number of steps to be taken before the process is complete. In the meantime we won't be providing a running commentary," he said. Dyer suggested Australian cricket deserves "genuine improvement through deliberate actions taken in collaboration between the players and the administrators". "This is the only way public trust will be restored," he wrote. "A critical part of this process is the appointment of a new CEO of Cricket Australia. "This new person will need to be a proven expert in cultural renewal and change, appointed on that platform and with an unambiguous direction to enact all that the Longstaff and McCosker reviews deem necessary." Australian Associated Press

Aus cricketers want governance change: ACA

Australian cricketers have demanded major changes to how the sport is run, according to the players' union.

The absence of suspended trio Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft means it is a time of great upheaval on the park, as reflected in the bolter-laden Test squad announced on Tuesday.

But the winds of change will also sweep through the headquarters of Cricket Australia (CA), where an independent review is set to be released soon while the race to be chief executive James Sutherland's successor enters its final stage.

The power of those gusts is yet to be determined. Speculation continues to swirl on both fronts.

Kevin Roberts, CA's general in last year's bitter pay war, is on the final shortlist of CEO candidates and expected to be chairman David Peever's preferred candidate.

The findings of Dr Simon Longstaff's Ethics Centre probe into CA culture and governance, commissioned following the cheating scandal in Cape Town, are close to being finalised.

A player behaviour charter, resulting from a separate review that was chaired by former opener Rick McCosker, is also expected to be signed off long before India arrive for a four-Test series in December.

The Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) sought feedback from past and present players prior to making a series of recommendations in its submission to the Ethics Centre.

"The feedback from ACA members provided a resounding call for significant and lasting change in the administration of the game," ACA president Greg Dyer wrote in the union's September newsletter.

"The unfortunate events in South Africa created an opportunity that Australian cricket must not miss.

"The opportunity for change is upon us - it must be grabbed with both hands.

"Cricket cannot 'promote' its way out of this situation. This mustn't be a 'clever' marketing exercise."

Dyer also called for a "very open and transparent" release of the independent review.

A CA spokesperson noted their organisation is committed to sharing findings from the concurrent reviews before the home season starts.

"There are still a number of steps to be taken before the process is complete. In the meantime we won't be providing a running commentary," he said.

Dyer suggested Australian cricket deserves "genuine improvement through deliberate actions taken in collaboration between the players and the administrators".

"This is the only way public trust will be restored," he wrote.

"A critical part of this process is the appointment of a new CEO of Cricket Australia.

"This new person will need to be a proven expert in cultural renewal and change, appointed on that platform and with an unambiguous direction to enact all that the Longstaff and McCosker reviews deem necessary."